Turning the sod on a new era
Turning the sod on a new era
8 April 2019
The start of the Box Hill Corps redevelopment was celebrated by a 'turning of the sod' ceremony last month. (Pictured front
A ‘turning of the sod’ ceremony has marked the official start of construction on the new site of Box Hill Corps, in Melbourne’s east.
About 50 people attended the ceremony at 1000 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill, on 23 March, including Whitehorse Mayor Councillor Bill Bennett, State Member for Box Hill Paul Hamer, other dignitaries, plus staff and members of Box Hill Corps.
Box Hill Corps Officer Major Alwyn Robinson, Epworth Eastern Hospital’s Louise O’Connor, Trevor Lloyd of Lloyd Group and Cr Bennett shared the official ‘sod-turning’ duties.
The new purpose-built facility will include a conference-like building, housing a worship
The site, which is next to Box Hill Town Hall, became available in a ‘land-swap’ agreement with Epworth Eastern Hospital and Box Hill Institute.
Negotiations for the land swap began five years ago as Epworth Eastern Hospital sought to expand, citing the need for a new location for a nurse training facility. In agreement with the Box Hill Institute, it purchased the property at 1000 Whitehorse Road and swapped it with The Salvation Army, and offered to foot the cost of constructing a new
“Epworth Eastern is our
“It’s a big financial investment and that was an incentive for them to help The Salvation Army.”
The Box Hill Corps has been active in the Melbourne suburb for 128 years, and its move to Whitehorse Road allows it to return to
The corps has moved numerous times over the past
Major Bram Cassidy, Area Officer for Melbourne Metro East, said the move to Whitehorse Road was timely, as the current building was struggling to cater effectively for the corps’ thriving ministry. 
An artist's impression of the new Box Hill Corps facility.
“The building has served us well, but it wasn’t designed for Salvation Army ministry in the 21st century,” he said.
“I really believe that The Salvation Army belongs in the main street of town, where the problems are, and everybody’s there. [The exciting part is] Box Hill gets to go back to the main street of town.”
The new site is just up the road from Box Hill Central, the hub of public transport [including the train station] and Box Hill community life.
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